left ankle pain after 8 months

by Martha Harper
(Guntowm,Ms )

Feb. 2008 I fell from a step going out of my front door. I recieved a sprained ankle with 2 partial torn ligaments. My outside ankle and along the outside portion of my foot were badly swollen and black. I was on crutches, wore an air cast, pain management, RICE, all the normal treatments. When it first happened, I had xrays and a MRI. Weeks later after coming off the crutches, wearing an ankle brace and exercises, my ankle was still slightly swollen and painful to walk on. I had another MRI that showed my ligament were still torn. The doctor said to continue with the excercises and ibuprofen, wearing the brace,so on and so on. I did. I've continued to have pain inside the joint and some tenderness along the outside of the foot. No bruising now, but my toes do get colder on my left foot and trying to lay on my left side has become a challenge. My foot and ankle began to throb and at times I experince shooting pain from the outside ankle to the inside ankle. IF my feet are hanging down while sitting, my ankle and outside foot start having a dull ache. I went to my Family General Practioner and she sent me for a 3rd MRI. It showed my ligament had healed and she said everything looked ok as far as the report showed. If I continued to had problems to consult a podiatrist. What could be the cause of these problems. I hate going and paying for these very expensive test just for the results to show nothing. I'm not making this up and it not "in my head". Should I still be having this aching, throbbing pain for this long? Why is laying on my left side. putting a slight amount of pressure on my skin in that area causing me discomfort still. I should also mention I use a memory foam pillow to lay my foot/ankle on but this only helps for a little while and also this is the 2nd time I've sprain this left ankle. The first time was in was in 2004. Both times the doctors said no breaks are showing on the xrays/MRI. Any advise you can give as to what the problem could be is greatly appreciated and thanks for having this question board.

Hi Martha,
Well for starters I would stop going for MRI's. I do not know anything about you like your age, your weight, your medical history, but since this is the second time you have injured this area it is probably safe to assume that you have scar tissue in the area from these accidents which is still causing some of your pain. Additionally, even though the ligaments are "healed" they are probably still weak and not supporting the ankle as well as they should.
Have you tried physical therapy? That would be my suggestion, which should go a long way in reducing your symptoms and improving the strength in your ankle.
Marc Mitnick DPM